In the late 1990s, the Dodgers and Yankees had comparable payrolls. But then the Yankees started to spend like crazy. Much like poaching Friedman, if there was a player the Yankees wanted, they just went out and out-spent everybody else and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

The result was a Yankees payroll that skyrocketed in the 2000s. But since a group led by Magic Johnson purchased the Dodgers for $US2 billion, the Dodgers’ payroll has quickly caught up with the Yankees and even surpassed the Bronx Bombers this past season.

Baseball has a new Evil Empire and it plays baseball on the west coast.